Latest Blog Posts

Beat Black Friday, avoid the chaos

By Julie Stobbe / November 21, 2023 /

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are fast approaching. There may be some deals you can find.  Ask yourself:

  1. Will you be spending a lot of your valuable time looking for that special holiday deal?
  2. Will you end up purchasing things that cause clutter for you or a friend?
  3. Will you overspend on your budget?
  4. Will you be happy with your purchases?

Fun Facts 

Here are some fun facts.  The term Black Friday first became used widely in the 1990’s and refers to retailers reaching profitability or in the black – black ink, as opposed to losses that were originally recorded in red ink.

Black Friday sales declined only once in recent years. It was 2008 during the  Recession. Only 263,820 seasonal workers were hired in 2008 – a staggering low compared to the record 764,750 workers hired in 2013.

Here’s an idea you don’t have to wait in line for. 

Mind over Clutter.ca has 3 hour packages designed to help with any number of tasks in the home and office. Considering purchasing an

  • Income Tax Receipt Organizing Package
  • Holiday Cleanup Package
  • Streamlining Your Office Package.
  • Virtual Organizing Packages

Packages can be designed to fit the individual needs of the person receiving the gift.  Purchase your gift package for $195.00. Contact julie@mindoverclutter.ca to purchase your clutter-free gift of time.

A clutter free gift of time

Give the gift of time

Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, in person and virtually. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situation. She uses her love of physical activity to reduce clutter, in your home and office. She guides and supports you to manage your time. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.

Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca

Click here to learn more about her online course Create an Organized Home.

 TwitterFacebook Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space

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What is the most stressful part of organizing the holiday season for you?

By Julie Stobbe / November 7, 2023 /

From now until January there are many celebrations. During the holiday season expectations are raised.  The food needs to be perfect, the gift needs to be thoughtfully purchased, the house needs to be tastefully decorated, and everyone needs to be happy all the time.  Record your expectations for the season.  Everything you can think of.  Look through your list and decide on a plan that makes each expectation manageable for you.  If your expectations align with practicality, this holiday will be less stressful and more fun.

Planning Food

Could you:

Make a simple Holiday meal.

Make a simple Holiday meal.

  1. Cook ahead of time and freeze the food
  2. Plan a potluck with everyone contributing
  3. Buy your holiday baking
  4. Simplify your menu, prepare fewer items

 

 

Gift Giving

Gift Giving 

Could you:

  1. Reduce the number of people you buy for
  2. Draw names so everyone gets one gift
  3. Set a price limit on the value of the gift
  4. Plan an experience instead of buying a gift: go to a play, go out for dinner, and go to a movie

 

 

If your expectations align with practicality, holidays will be less stressful and more fun. Click To Tweet

Decorating

Could you:

Plant a bulb and watch it grow

Use flowers to decorate.

 

  1.   Put out fewer items
  2.   Use more oversized items to make the space look decorated instead of using  lots of small items
  3.   Decorate with flowers; you don’t have to pack them away when the season is over

 

 

 

Be Happy

 

Be Happy

Could you:

Spend time together doing things you enjoy

Spend time together doing things you enjoy

  1. Plan your schedule so you don’t get over tired
  2. Plan downtime so each member of the group can spend time alone
  3. Plan things you like to do, not have to do
  4. Plan to exercise and get fresh air

 

Can you learn to ask for help and accept help?

Can you learn to ask for help and accept help? 

Virtual organizing allows me to support your organizing projects by providing planning, coaching and mentoring while both remaining safely at home Book a 30-minute complimentary virtual organizing assessment. https://mindoverclutter.as.me/virtualorganizingassessment

 

A blue and white striped tunnel in the background with Julie Stobbe in the foreground wearing a white blouse. Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, in person and virtually. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situation. She uses her love of physical activity to reduce clutter, in your home and office. She guides and supports you to manage your time. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.

Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca

Click here to learn more about her online course Create an Organized Home.

 TwitterFacebook Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space

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Organize your shopping guide

By Julie Stobbe / December 17, 2019 /

The holiday season is here and Black Friday has come and gone and Cyber Monday is completed. Why talk about shopping now?  If you’re a last minute shopper you may end up spending more than your should.

Do you need it or want it?

Do you need it or want it?

Developing good shopping habits will save you money.  Now is the time of the year when you can get lots of practice developing good shopping habits.Developing good buying habits will save you money. Click To Tweet

Buying for the Wrong Reasons

  • It was on sale
  • Too good a bargain to pass up
  • I may find a use for it some day
  • Someone else I know may need it one day
  • It feels good to shop

I am sure we have all experienced these reasons for purchasing items at one time or another.  Usually these types of purchases are items we don’t need, use, want or even like.  They cost us money, not save money.  If you have made a purchase for the wrong reason, you can return it.

How to Buy

  • Shop for things you need not want
  • Shop for things that fit into the space you have
  • Shop for things within your budget
  • Determine how you will use the item
  • Know where you are going to store it or display it
  • When you buy something new, give something away.

Stuck for an idea

Mind over Clutter.ca has 3 hour packages designed to help with any number of tasks in the home and office. Considering purchasing an

  • Income Tax Receipt Organizing Package
  • Holiday Cleanup Package
  • Streamlining Your Office Package.

Packages can be designed to fit the individual needs of the person receiving the gift.  It can be on-site or as a virtual session on-lone.  Purchase your gift package  for $160.00. Contact julie@mindoverclutter.ca to purchase your clutter free gift of time.

A clutter free gift of time

Give the gift of time

Do you plan a budget for your holiday shopping?

POC Gold Leaf crestJulie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, in person and virtually. She enjoys working with her clients to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situation. She reduces clutter, streamlines processes and manages time to help her clients be more effective in reaching their goals. Julie can coach you to break-free of the physical or emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. 

Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca

 TwitterFacebook Join my Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space

Click here to learn more about working with a Professional Organizer?

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Give the Gift of Time

By Julie Stobbe / December 11, 2018 /

Looking for a Gift of Time to give this Holiday Season?

MindoverClutter.ca has 3 hour packages designed to help with any number of tasks in the home and office. Considering purchasing an:

Gift a gift of time to someone who is busy

Gift a gift of time to someone who is busy

  • Income Tax Receipt Organizing Package
  • Holiday Cleanup Package
  • Streamlining Your Office Package.
  • Organizing for the New Year

Packages can be designed to fit the individual needs of the person receiving the gift.  Purchase your introductory gift package in 2018 for $150.00. Contact julie@mindoverclutter.ca to purchase your clutter free gift of time.

Julie Stobbe, professional organizerJulie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices,  virtually. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situation. She uses her love of physical activity to reduce clutter, in your home and office. She guides and supports you to manage your time. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.

Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca

 TwitterFacebook Join my Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space

Click here to learn more about working with a Professional Organizer

 

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Looking for a Gift That Works?

By Julie Stobbe / April 8, 2015 /

When I was at the National Home show in Toronto last month I stopped by the  Straga Products booth. www.stragaproducts.com  They make lovely wooden cutting boards that  can be personalized.  They make great presents for weddings, birthdays, client appreciation, etc.   What would you have written on your cutting board?

wooden cutting boards

Personalized cutting boards make a great gift

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Holiday Help

By Julie Stobbe / November 27, 2014 /

I participate in  Professional Organizers Blog Carnival along with many other organizers.  Janet Barclay has developed this site to help people get a lot of ideas on many organizing topics.  This month the blog site is about everything related to the holiday season and gift giving.  I hope you enjoy reading it.  Read my submission on Clutter free Gift giving.  https://organizedassistant.com/holiday-gift-giving-pobc/

Holiday Season gift giving

Everything you wanted to know about gift giving

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